Lyrics
Verse 1
The news came to Jesus, please come fast.
Lazarus is sick and without Your help he will not last.
Mary and Martha, watched their brother die
They waited for Jesus- But He did not come.
And they wondered why.
Verse 2
The death watch was over; buried four days.
Somebody said He'll soon be here
The Lord's on His way.
Martha ran to Him, and then she cried
Lord if You had been here- You could have healed him. He'd still be alive.
Chorus
But You're four days late; and all hope is gone.
Lord we don't understand why You've waited so long."
But His way is God's way.
Not yours or mine
And isn't it great, when He's four days late- He's still on time!
Verse 3
Jesus said, "Martha, show Me the grave."
But she said, "Lord You don't understand-
he's been there four days!""
The grave stone was rolled back.
Then Jesus cried, "Lazarus! Come forth!"
Then somebody said, "He's ALIVE! He's ALIVE!"
Verse 4
You may be fighting a battle of fear
You've cried to the Lord "I need You now!" But He has not appeared.
Friend don't be discouraged
He's still the same.
He'll soon be here, and He'll roll back the stone, and He'll call out your name!
Final Chorus
When He's four days late and all hope is gone
Lord we don't understand why You've waited so long.
But His way is God's way, not yours or mine
And isn't it great when He's four days late- He's still on time!
Oh, my God is great! When He's four days late- He's still on time!!!
Credits & Song Information
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Four Days Late” by Karen Peck & New River retells the story of Lazarus from John 11 as a lesson about waiting. The first verse tells how word came to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, yet He did not come, and Mary and Martha watched their brother die. The second verse has Martha running to Him with the words, “If You had been here, he would still be alive.”
The chorus is the point of the song: “Isn’t it great, when He’s four days late, He’s still on time!” The third verse brings the stone rolled back and the call, “Lazarus! Come forth!” The fourth turns to the listener who is fighting a battle of fear and feels that God has not appeared. It encourages patience, saying He will roll back the stone and call out your name.
The story is told in John 11:1-44, and the chorus echoes the idea in Isaiah 55:8-9 that God’s ways are not ours. The tone is hopeful, direct and made for testimony.
Related Scripture
- John 11:3-6 Jesus stays two more days after hearing Lazarus is sick
- John 11:43-44 Lazarus, come forth
- Isaiah 55:8-9 God’s ways are higher than our ways